The accession of Romania is part of the inclusive and irreversible process of EU enlargement, said a press release from the 9th meeting of the EU-Romania Association Council which was held here on Monday.

The meeting, chaired by Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou, welcomed the EU statement that it would like to welcome Romania as a EU member in 2007.

"In this context, the Association Council noted that the Union (EU) reiterated its determination to assist Romania in its efforts to step up preparation for accession, within the comprehensive framework that has been established by the revised Accession Partnership and the Commission's Roadmap for Romania," said the press release.

The EU has put forward proposals for a significant increase in pre-accession assistance to Romania.

The Association Council furthermore noted that future rotating presidencies of the EU and the European Commission will be mandated by the European Council to make sure that the pace of accession negotiations on all remaining chapters, including chapters with financial implications, is maintained and matches the efforts of Romania.

It also welcomed Romania's contribution to the work of the European Convention and looked forward to its participation as observer in the next Intergovernmental Conference.

The Association Council reviewed Romania's preparation for accession in light of the latest Regular Report issued by the European Commission in October 2002, the Accession Partnership revised in April 2003, and the Romanian National Program for Adoption of the Acquis which was revised in June 2002.

The EU leaders decided at the Copenhagen summit last December that it would finish accession negotiations with Romania and Bulgaria in 2004 so that they can gain EU full membership by 2007.

(Xinhua News Agency May 20, 2003)